Effort made to make Bethlehem rail trail safer

Q: The Bethlehem section of the “Rail Trail” is now open, and many residents are looking forward to this significant event. I would like to remind people that the immediate area surrounding the only road crossing poses significant potential hazards to pedestrians and cyclists.

Specifically, the intersection of Hudson Avenue and Adams Street sees a significant number of vehicles “cutting through” this residential neighborhood to avoid the traffic at the four corners during evening rush hour.

It is important to note that this is intersection is not a four way stop, rather it is designed to feed traffic off Kenwood into the neighborhood, so traffic coming from Kenwood has no stop sign (and therefore the right of way).

Many vehicles coming from Hudson and taking the left onto Adams do not come a stop, instead assuming that if they reach the intersection first, they will have the right of way, regardless of the fact that they have a stop sign. (I have seen, firsthand, dozens of close calls).

Additionally, there are many parents who stop and block the sidewalk in front of Blue Sky Music Studio, rather than using the parking lot adjacent to the studio or another lot immediately across the street. This forces pedestrians and cyclists to have to go into the roadway to pass the music studio.

I would think that periodic enforcement of these traffic rules by the Bethlehem Police Department would significantly reduce these potential hazards to those who choose to not use an automobile in this area.

— Anthony P. Apuzzi, BethlehemA: Town Supervisor Sam Messina said a new stop sign is now in place there to help address your concerns.

“In early May, with a section of the rail-trail scheduled to open in early June, the town of Bethlehem scheduled a public hearing to add a stop sign on Adams Street at Hudson Avenue,” he said. “The hearing was held, the motion to add the stop sign was adopted and the sign has been installed, making this intersection an all-way stop.”

The town also adjusted the path of the trail at the intersection so pedestrians have to cross at the intersection. Painted crosswalks were added prior to the opening of the rail-trail, he said.

“These improvements will make this intersection safer for all motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists using this corridor,” he said. “The Bethlehem Police Department has been actively monitoring and enforcing vehicle and traffic laws in this area for years. In addition to issuing tickets to motorists not obeying the stop signs, they have been working with the business owners along Adams Street in order to curtail parking on or across the sidewalk. I will be requesting that these efforts continue and actually be increased due to the additional activity in this area.”